Ward states, “iJ independence is violated only mildly then the probability oftype I error will be several times greater than the level the researcher thinks he or she is working with ”. We may ask, what is a mild violation of an assumption? Is it any better than a serious violation or any worse that a very mild violation? Any violation may incrcasc or decrease the probability of there being a type J error. ’There arc a whole host of misspecification errors that can lead to cither the underestimation or overestimation of confidence limits. I Iowcver, as already stated, there was no evidence of these in our modcl.

Wc considcr Ward’s statcment that thc R2 statistic is likely to be scriously inflated, to be irrelevant. The R2 statistic is not a very useful mcasurc of how well ordinary least square (OLS) models arc speci- licd, hccausc thcre are many ways in which this statistic can be incrcascd, for examplc, simply by adding irrelevant variables. Of much more importancc arc :he confidence limits ofthe estimates and rcsults of diagnostic tests.

Ward also statcs that thc correct method of overcoming ‘Serial correlution in dutu sets is to work with a model that culls for correluted error terms his is not always true as it depends on the sourcc ofthe serial corrclation in the model. If it is simply caused by missing variables (such as lagged Wool Price Market Indicator variablcs), then scrial correlation can be overcome by their inclusion. Advicc to usc asymptotic procedures such as the ARIMA model is misplaced in our case bccause we had only 23 observations. That is why we used OLS. Using OLS was also perfectly acceptable because we had no evidence of scrial correlation, non-normality, functional form misspccification or heteroscedasticity in our preferred model.

References Godfrey I S (1978) Econometrica 46: 1293 Jarque CM and Ik ra AK (1980) Economic Letters 6:255 I’esaran MI-l and Pesaran B (1991) MlCROFIT 3.0 An lnteraclive

Econometric Soflivare Package. Oxford University Press, Oxford, p 185 Ramsey JB ( 1 969) J Roy Stat Soc 8 31:350

field Manual - Rescue and Rehabilitation of Oiled Birds, Ema Walraven, Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales, 1992, pp 140, ISBN 0 7310 0048 X, obtainable from Taronga Park, PO Box 20, Mosman, NSW 2088, $30.00 plus postage $8.00

’I‘aronga Zoo, LARRY VOGELNEST PO Box 20, ERNA WALRAVEN Mosman. New South Wales 2088

We read with some surprise and puzzlement the review by Dr Garry Cross of the publication Field Manual - Rescue and Rehabilitation oJOiled Birds (Aust Vet J71:61).

Dr Cross‘ first critical comment on the manual is that it focuses attention on Taronga Zoo. The manual was published by Taronga Zoo and written largely by zoo staff or people associated with the zoo, but cannot bc reasonably considered to focus attention on anything other than the treatment of oiled birds. Taronga Zoo is mentioned on 5 of thc 140 pages, including the inside cover, title pagc and contents. Pacific Power, the State Transit Authority, the Roads Traffic Authority, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, ORRCA, the Wildlife Rehabilitation Forum of NSW, WIRES, RSPCA and the Association of Avian Veterinarians are also men- tioned in the manual in the same contexts as Taronga Zoo excepting that regarding its publication, for which the zoo makes no apology.

It appears that almost all Dr Cross’ criticisms relate to two of the appendices to the manual. Both were excerpted from earlier reports for the benefit of veterinarians who may choose to become involved

in treating oiled birds, but were not specifically written for the manual. That is why they were included as appendices and why they do not directly address the subject of treating oiled birds.

However, the manual was not written for veterinarians, invalidating Dr Cross’ criticisms that the manual lacks a medical protocol and that it fails to adequately address the participation of veterinarians. It was not intended to. It was written (page 8):

‘To providefield staffwith step-by-step guidelines to the handling, treatment and rehabilitation of oil-affected birds.”

When there is sufficient veterinary expertise specific to the treat- ment of oiled birds to warrant a publication intended for veterinari- ans, we would be very interested in participating in such a publication. Until then, veterinarians will have to rely on first principles and their general expertise in providing emergency and intensive care.

The same argument can be applied to Dr Cross’ criticism that the manual does not deal with oil-affected mammals. Birds are the group which is by far the most affected by oiling. This is due to their ecology, physiology and the nature of their plumage. Very few mammals are likely to be affected by oiling. The sea otter is one of a very few mammals that has been and is likely to be significantly affected by oiling. They do not occur in Australasian waters, very little is known specific to the treatment of mammals affected by oil that is significantly different to the information that can be gleaned from that presented for birds or that is first principle emergency treatment.

The manual has been well reviewed in a number of publications. Several reviewers, notably Dr Julie Langenberg, offered constructive criticisms, but overall, Dr Cross’ attitude to the manual is at great odds with that of every other review published, and those offered personally to the authors from many relevant organisations and experts. This questions the justification for Dr Cross’ harsh criti- cisms, but perhaps the stark contrast between the praise for practi- cality and ease of understanding all other reviewers made and the apparent preoccupation Dr Cross had with typographical errors and questions of definition puts it into its proper perspective.

We also find it difficult to understand Dr Cross’ advice for inter- ested veterinarians to contact Tri-State in the USA. The Tri-State literature was examined in detail and some was used in writing the manual. They are no further advanced in their techniques and treat- ments than us or any other organisation involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of oil-affected birds. Tri-State has recently contacted us asking permission to use some of the material contained in the manual for their own literature.

Taking a gas anaesthetic machine into the field would be very impractical and would rarely be feasible. Anaesthesia of oil-affected birds in the field would be largely contra-indicated.

We disagree with Dr Cross’ assertion that “the use of zoletil (sic) is also contra-indicated, since birds tend to recover violently”. Zoletil@* is administered intravenously at Taronga Zoo into water birds and produces a rapid induction before isoflurane and oxygen maintenance followed by a smooth recovery.

Reply

Departmentment of Animal Health, University of Sydney, Camden, New South Wales 2570

GARRY CROSS

I do not think it surprising that I thought this manual focused attention on Taronga Zoo, since the zoo’s name is present more than 5 times (I counted 13), all but one ofthe sections are written by zoo staff or former staff, and the hand-out included in the manual includes only the zoo’s logo. At the same time, I must point out that

* Zoletil @, Virbac (Australia) Pty Ltd, Peakhurst NSW

Australian Veterinary Journal Vol. 71, No. 8, August 1994 269

there is nothing wrong or sinister about a publication being centred around the activities of an institution.

The writers are correct in saying that my criticisms related to the appendices, mainly Appendix I (Veterinary Care of Oil-affected Wild Birds). They state that the appendices were excerpted from earlier reports for the benefit of veterinarians who may choose to become involved in treating oil-soaked birds. Most of the material in this appendix is not relevant to the veterinary treatment of oil- soaked birds - its title requires the inclusion of a medical protocol.

In my opinion, it is practical to take an anaesthetic machine into the field. In an oiled bird emergency, birds are transported to a central field station, not a Yield”. In the manual it is stated (page 3 1 ) that “An emergency veterinary hospital must be set up on-site as soon as possible”. I agree that anaesthesia of oil-soaked birds is contra- indicated, and this was mentioned in my review. However. after initial treatment, there can he indications for use of anaesthesia of cleaned and recovered birds, and isoflurane would he the anaesthetic of choice in such a situation.

In my opinion the use of Zoletil@’ in waterfowl is accompanied by violent recovery. unless used at lower doses for induction and followed by isofluraneioxygen anaesthesia, as described in the manual for larger waterfowl. In the manual (page 90) it is stated that anaesthesia can be maintained by additional doses of Zoletil’ given intravenously or intramuscularly. ”Tops ups’’ should only he given intravenously, since absorption from skeletal muscle in some anaes- thetised galliform and anseriform birds seems to be minimal.

The writers state that the manual is not intended for a veterinary audience. and the veterinay-oriented appendices do not directly relate to the treatment of oil-soaked birds. This manual was being reviewed for a veterinary audience in a veterinary journal, and may well have been favourably reviewed in a non-veterinary publication. I therefore believe that my suggestion that veterinarians interested in obtaining information on oil-soaked birds contact Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research Incorporated was justified.

Animal Experimentation Ethics Committees and the use of adjuvants

The Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART) is seeking information about the use of adjuvants in experimental animals, including 0 guidelines or policies for the use of adjuvants that have been

adopted by Animal Experimentation Ethics Committees. information on studies to minimise the effects on animals of procedures including the use of adjuvants. for example, compari- son of adjuvants, modification of regimens, volumes and sites of inoculation.

ANZCCART will use responses in the production of a discussion paper on the issues that will follow a workshop on the use of adjuvants which it will hold in Melbourne on 6 October 1994.

Responses should be sent to Dr RM Baker, Executive Officer. ANZCCART, PO Box 19. Glen Osmond, SA 5064, before the end of August.

Injury to dogs falling from trucks The Victorian Division of the Association conducted a survey in

April 1994 to determine the incidence of in.jury to dogs that had fallen from the hack of a moving truck, trailer or utility.

The object was to assemble information so that a regulatory impact statement could be presented to the Minister for Transport, Victoria, to support changes to legislative regulations making it an offence to drive on a public road or highway with a dog that is on the tray o f a moving truck, trailer or utility and is not propcrly tethered.

The proposed changes to the regulations would require the driver to ensure that the dog was tethered to the rear of the driver’s cabin by a short chain attached by a swivel to a suitable floor mounting The chain should he long enough to allow the dog to stand or turn hut not to reach the side of the tray.

A questionnaire was sent to all veterinary practices and animal societies in Victoria in April 1994. The three questions asked were:

Has your practice treated any dogs that have fallen from the back of a moving truch. trailer or utility in the past 12 months? If Yes. how many such cases did thc practice treat during the previous 12 months? Approximately how many cases have been seen by the practice during the last 5 years?

Veterinarians were almost unanimously in favour of legislation to tether dogs by a short leash to the back of moving vehicles, but some concern was expressed for dogs actively working, such as when droving or moving between two sections of a farm along a public ro3d. The suggestion offered was that dogs being used to drove animals and carried on a vehicle travelling under 20 kph be exempt from the requirement, as wcll as those travelling some minimum distance on a public road, for example, 500 m.

In summary, I56 practices responded, 90 from metropolitan Melbourne and Geelong, 65 from rural areas and regional centres, and one unstated. Forty-four practices (34 metropolitan/8 rural) had not seen injuries of this sort. A total of 799 dogs were estimated to have been seen with this type of injury in the last year (233 metro- poIitan/566 rural), an average of 5.1 per practice (2.6 metro- politad8.7 rural).

A total of 33 13 injured dogs were estimated to have been seen over the last 5 years as a result of jumping or falling from trays (888 metropolitan/2423 rural), an average of 23.5 per practice (1 1 .0 metropolitan/41 rural). The findings ofthe survey have been referred to the Ministcr for Transport as part o fa rcgulatory impact statement supporting changes in legislation.

KJ Picken Executive Officer

PERSONAL

Dr WJ Pryor has been appointed Deputy Chancellor of the new University of Ballarat. Dr Pryor as President of Ballarat University Council played an important role in the events leading to the creation of the University of Ballarat.

Dr Thomas Wynn Edwards has received the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to the veterinary profession and animal welfare. Dr Edwards qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 195 1. He is currently Registrar of the Western Australian Veterinary Sur-

CORRECTION

geons’ Board, having retired from Murdoch University, Western Australia, where he was in charge of animal welfare,

Dr Jakob Malmo has received the Order of Australia (OA) for services to veterinary science and education and to the dairy industry.

Treatment of feline hyperthyroidism using orally administered radioiodine: a study of 40 consecutive cases, by R Malik, WA Lamb and DB Church, Aust l ’e lJ70(6): 218-219, June 1993.

Dr Malmo, who is Vice President of the Australian Veterinary Association, is the principal of a predominantly dairy cattle practice in Maffra. Victoria.

The unit for the dose of 1 3 ’ I administered to the cats is MBq and not mBq as published.

270 Australian Veterinary Journal Vol. 71, No. 8, August 1994